The Criterion Collection

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by blu-bry

I've only seen the '46 version, and your description of it is dead-on. I wasn't aware of the '64 version until now. I would second the motion for a release that offers both!

You do release that the Criterion DVD includes both films, right? As well as a short student film version made by Andrei Tarkovsky.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My preferences are strong for the 1946 film, because it is a quintessential classic-era noir. Burt Lancaster was always one of the best leading men of film noir, and Ava Gardner is lovely. This film follows the vibe of the Hemingway story quite well, even in the ways that it expands on that story.

I do love the 1964 Don Siegel film, though. It's a trip to see Ronald Reagan as a villain, I love watching Lee Marvin in action, and I'm always up for an Angie Dickinson movie.

I do wish that Criterion would put together an upgrade to Blu-ray in the same style, by offering both movies in the same package.

I too loved seeing Reagan as a villain. So much fun to see him play bad. The '46 version just has so many great actors and moments. It'll be viewed again and again in my house.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Depends on the contract, but generally speaking, I wouldn't think so. I think lessons were learned back in the infancy of home video, and by the time DVDs arrived, contracts probably included possibilities of future formats. (Just as I'm sure that music contracts negotiated for CDs included language for future formats.)

I would be very surprised if Criterion had to renegotiate a contract every time they wanted to upgrade a DVD to Blu-ray.

Criterion had to re-negotiate with Paramount for the Days of Heaven blu-ray rights.

[blu-bry]

Originally Posted by jayembee

You do release that the Criterion DVD includes both films, right? As well as a short student film version made by Andrei Tarkovsky.

No. I just caught the '46 version on TCM, so I was unaware of what the Criterion DVD offered. Now I'm at a point where I'd rather wait and hope for a Blu-ray release. I try not to buy DVD standalone versions anymore - only because I know myself. I will always run out and buy the Blu-ray and have to unload the DVD.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Depends on the contract, but generally speaking, I wouldn't think so. I think lessons were learned back in the infancy of home video, and by the time DVDs arrived, contracts probably included possibilities of future formats. (Just as I'm sure that music contracts negotiated for CDs included language for future formats.)

I would be very surprised if Criterion had to renegotiate a contract every time they wanted to upgrade a DVD to Blu-ray.

I guess I look at something like Nanook of The North, where Criterion appears to have an active license for the dvd based on the in print Criterion dvd, but not a license for the blu-ray (at least not any type of exclusive license), based on the Flicker Alley blu released in the US.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Criterion had to re-negotiate with Paramount for the Days of Heaven blu-ray rights.

I'm surprised at that, but it doesn't change what I said. Criterion deals with several different companies, and it would be silly to expect that their contract is going to be the same with every single company. That's why contracts are "negotiated". No doubt some companies will withhold certain rights. I said I'd be very surprised if Criterion had to renegotiate every time they wanted to do an upgrade.

Unless we have a copy of any specific contract of theirs (and can understand all the legalese) we have no way of knowing what rights they do or do not have. It's just that in this day and age, having to renegotiate every time a new format appeared would be an exceedingly stupid way to do business.

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I guess I look at something like Nanook of The North, where Criterion appears to have an active license for the dvd based on the in print Criterion dvd, but not a license for the blu-ray (at least not any type of exclusive license), based on the Flicker Alley blu released in the US.

There's no license involved with Nanook of the North; the film is in the Public Domain. Criterion is free to do a Blu-ray edition if they feel like it, just as Flicker Alley was despite Criterion having done the DVD.

[shadedpain4]

I didn't even consider the public domain angle, but that makes a lot of sense.

[aes3728]

Wasn't there talk of Life Aquatic review coming soon? Been chompin at the bit waiting to read it.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I'm surprised at that, but it doesn't change what I said. Criterion deals with several different companies, and it would be silly to expect that their contract is going to be the same with every single company. That's why contracts are "negotiated". No doubt some companies will withhold certain rights. I said I'd be very surprised if Criterion had to renegotiate every time they wanted to do an upgrade.

Unless we have a copy of any specific contract of theirs (and can understand all the legalese) we have no way of knowing what rights they do or do not have. It's just that in this day and age, having to renegotiate every time a new format appeared would be an exceedingly stupid way to do business.

I guess all we can do is speculate. I looked at Criterion's past history with Universal titles and there isn't much to go on. On the one hand, Criterion could do the upgrade, as they are doing with All That Heaven Allows; on the other hand, Universal could decide to take the blu ray in-house, as they did with Spartacus.

One scenario that would not surprise me is for Universal to do a special edition for the 1946 version, as they did recently with Double Indemnity and Touch of Evil, and then license the 1964 version to someone like Twilight Time or Kino.

In the meantime, I'll hold out, hoping that a Criterion edition with both versions upgraded will be eventually forthcoming.

[octagon]

Speaking of public domain, I saw a very nice presentation of The Strange Love of Martha Ivers on TCM a few nights ago.

I want it.

The first time I sat down and watched it (I believe on some shovelware dvd noir collection) I wasn't too impressed. But I have to say, I find more to love every time I see it.

It's no Double Indemnity but it's a lot closer than I originally thought.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by octagon

Speaking of public domain, I saw a very nice presentation of The Strange Love of Martha Ivers on TCM a few nights ago.

I want it.

The first time I sat down and watched it (I believe on some shovelware dvd noir collection) I wasn't too impressed. But I have to say, I find more to love every time I see it.

It's no Double Indemnity but it's a lot closer than I originally thought.

It's a good one. One of the darker noirs I've seen (especially the ending).

[ShellOilJunior]

This is an excellent noir I don't see mentioned around here. I don't see Paramount issuing a blu-ray any time soon...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040823/?ref_=nv_sr_1

[EPlay]

Originally Posted by iScottie

By the way, Criterion needs to put out SOMETHING by François Ozon.

I agree! I've seen 8 or 9 of his films -- "5x2" is my favorite, but also love "In the House" and "Time to Leave". Also liked the unsettling vibes of "Criminal Lovers" and "See the Sea".

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

This is an excellent noir I don't see mentioned around here. I don't see Paramount issuing a blu-ray any time soon...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040823/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Good film that, Barbara gives a stellar performance, very different to Double Indemnity.

[Judex]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Please watch Swimming Pool.

It was one of those films that didn't really sound interesting to me for numerous years, but several months ago I recorded it via the Sundance Channel and I was speechless. Everything was phenomenal, especially the ending.[/SPOILER]

I watched it. and I completely agree, wish I watched it alot sooner.

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

This is an excellent noir I don't see mentioned around here. I don't see Paramount issuing a blu-ray any time soon...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040823/?ref_=nv_sr_1

[Show spoiler]

I second this.

Originally Posted by EPlay

I agree! I've seen 8 or 9 of his films -- "5x2" is my favorite, but also love "In the House" and "Time to Leave". Also liked the unsettling vibes of "Criminal Lovers" and "See the Sea".

I watched that on NetflixUS earlier before I watched Swimming Pool. I thought it was incredible really powerful stuff.

[The Great Owl]

I keep hoping that Sorry, Wrong Number will be released on Blu-ray at some point, but I might break down and buy the DVD soon.

I love The Strange Love of Martha Ivers. I own the Film Chest Blu-ray, and, although it takes a lot of flack on this site because of the digital noise reduction, I am satisfied with the disc...especially for the five dollars that I paid for it. Lizabeth Scott is one of my favorite noir women. She had an amazing voice.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I keep hoping that Sorry, Wrong Number will be released on Blu-ray at some point, but I might break down and buy the DVD soon.

I love The Strange Love of Martha Ivers. I own the Film Chest Blu-ray, and, although it takes a lot of flack on this site because of the digital noise reduction, I am satisfied with the disc...especially for the five dollars that I paid for it. Lizabeth Scott is one of my favorite noir women. She had an amazing voice.

Speaking of Ms. Scott, Dead Reckoning needs some blu ray love, but it's Columbia/Sony, so who knows what will happen with it.

[blu-bry]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I keep hoping that Sorry, Wrong Number will be released on Blu-ray at some point, but I might break down and buy the DVD soon.

I've had that DVD for years, but haven't watched it in some time. I'm going to have to revisit that one. Barbara Stanwyck is a personal favorite.

[blu-bry]

Originally Posted by belcherman

Speaking of Ms. Scott, Dead Reckoning needs some blu ray love, but it's Columbia/Sony, so who knows what will happen with it.

I just saw her in "Pitfall" a couple of nights ago. That was a great movie. Raymond Burr was quite a creep!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by blu-bry

I just saw her in "Pitfall" a couple of nights ago. That was a great movie. Raymond Burr was quite a creep!

Pitfall is such an awesome movie, and it's one of the true film noir movies in terms of hitting all of the right notes with respect to the strictest definitions of the genre. The DVD that I own is not the greatest in terms of picture quality, but Pitfall is a public domain movie and it may never see the light of day in pristine quality.

The Racket and Dark City are two other great movies starring Lizabeth Scott.

I found out not long ago that all of the sequences of Lizabeth Scott singing at nightclubs in her movies were dubbed from other singers. I have not been this disappointed since I found out during my childhood that Santa Claus is not real.

Fortunately, I stumbled across some songs from Lizabeth Scott's 1958 album, Lizabeth, and I was pleased to discover that her actual singing voice is quite amazing.

Here's one of the songs from her album...

[Show spoiler]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHhu7IS63BM

Originally Posted by belcherman

Speaking of Ms. Scott, Dead Reckoning needs some blu ray love, but it's Columbia/Sony, so who knows what will happen with it.

Definitely! I'd love for Dead Reckoning to see the light of day on Blu-ray.